Kristen's Kloset Opened In Southington To Help Take Cost Out Of Prom

SOUTHINGTON—The first floor of the vacant Gura building has been transformed into a prom boutique.

Kristen's Kloset provides prom dresses for low or no cost to high school students. The program, in its eighth year was created in the memory of DePaolo Middle School student Kristen Warner, who died in a car crash in 2004.

According to director Sue Saucier, the program received a lot of community support over the years; this year there are over 600 dresses available. She said the one-stop-prom-shop should be everyone's first stop.

"You have nothing to lose by coming here first," said Saucier. "Girls are swapping the most beautiful gowns."

"It's really the best place to go for your first option," said Southington senior Kayla Bassingthwaite. "It's a lifesaver coming from a single-parent household."

This year's pop-up boutique features a variety of colorful gowns, including some designer labels, a wall of sparkling dress shoes, jewelry, and purses.

Saucier explained that the dress shop is open to all high school students and free dress vouchers were provided to high school guidance counselors to give to students who have a financial need. Others are asked to bring a dress to swap or donate $25 for a used dress and $35 for a new dress.

"We realized early on that we weren't going to turn anyone away," said Saucier. "It's not just for Southington kids… last year, girls came from 50 different towns."

On Saturday, there were girls from Glastonbury, Wolcott and Berlin shopping for dresses.

Farmington senior Ziggy Shulting was returning a dress to Kristen's Kloset and shopping for a new one. "I love it, I came here last year for my dress and ended up getting two," she said.

Southington senior Kelly Craven was excited to find her dress that afternoon. "I told myself I was going to get a dress here rather than spend a ton of money somewhere else," she said.

After deciding on a gown, Craven was fitted by volunteer seamstress, Sandy Varsell, who provides alterations for the cost of supplies.

Varsell, a Bristol resident who has worked altering wedding gowns in bridal shops, has been volunteering with Kristen's Kloset for the last four years. She said the experience has been very rewarding. "I get hugs from the girls – that means more than anything else."

Another volunteer, Carly Keith of Old Lyme, was running in and out of the dressing room bringing different gowns for the girls to try on. "I wish we could open [this program] year round because I think it's really important," she said. "Teens are coming here and we make them feel special."

In addition to dresses, the money collected supports Youth Services and helped students afford prom tickets as well as tuxedo rentals. In 2013, Kristen's Kloset and the Joe & Kay Calvanese Foundation provided tickets to 34 students and helped 12 high school boys rent tuxedos at Southington's Modern Formals.

Kristen's Kloset is open now through May 10: Tuesday 2:30 to 6 p.m., Thursday 2:30 to 8 p.m., and Saturday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, call: 860-276-6281. The Gura building is located at 93 Main St. in Southington.